Bezoar, DD's words, a request, and thanks

[ellecain]

No: HPFGUIDX 139838

 Katherine  wrote:

> One strange legend attributes the powers of bezoar to Oriental 
stags.   
> When the stags reached a certain age, they were said to eat 
serpents in 
> order to regain their youth.  But in consuming the serpents, the 
stags 
> consumed their venom as well.  To detoxify quickly, the stags ran 
into 
> a stream while keeping their heads above water.  This action 
>somehow 
> caused fluid to be distilled from their eyes, and the fluid was 
then 
> transformed into a bezoar by the heat of the sun.

> I don't know about any of you, but my Pottermania Antennae sprang 
to 
> full alert when I read that.
> 
> Stags...serpents...eyes....renewed youth....generation of a new 
healing 
> stone through the magic of tears....

Elyse here:
I thought this was fabulous!
I've always wondered why James' Animagus form was a stag.
It had to have a meaning, seeing as JKR invests 
a lot of symbolism and meaning into the books.
(Snape's mysterious Patronus for instance)

I mean Sirius was a dog - dogs are devotion personified
and this was the essence of Sirius' character.
Pettigrew was (literally) a rat, who ratted on his best friends to 
the dark lord.
I havent understood Mcgonagall as a cat, but Im working  on it.
So why was James a stag?
Out of all the animals he could have been, for instance
a lion for bravery - would have brought out the regal showman
in him alongwith his courage.

And is it a coincidence that this is Harry's Patronus?
I think not.
Help me out here. I think this a profitable train of thought.
Maybe whatever stag qualities that James had were what prompted him 
to save Snape's life?
Maybe since Harry has them he will do the same in book 7?

Please let me know if there are any JKR quotes on
James' Animagus form. And could someone direct me to the best 
fanfics out there? All the ones Ive read are badly written and seem 
contrived.

Deb wrote:
>Oh, I am in agreement with you Elyse! I think you have outlined the 
>key points of the real Snape very well, IMO. I would also add that 
>he is a very accomplished healer as well as Potions master, DADA 
>expert, Occulmens Par excellente, and very accomplished Legilemens 
>also.  He heals Draco after the Sectumsempra and he stabilizes 
>Katie 
>Bell after the necklace gets her.  

Elyse: Thanks!! Glad to know someone agrees!

colebiancardi wrote
Break down DD's sentence into 2 parts
"I believe it to be the greatest regret of his life" <== the telling
of the prophecy to Voldemort.

"The reason he returned-" <== DD was beginning to tell Harry why 
Snape
truly returned - The reason he returned was because of something or
other...

Elyse
I totally support this line of argument.
I dont think Dumbledore was suggesting that Snape came over to the 
good side due to remorse over the Potters' death. 
It sounds way too simple to me and while Dumbledore may make
mistakes, he is no fool, and I doubt this story wouldve held
water with him.
If it did, then he really was as senile as the Daily Prophet
was saying all along